The Future of Smallholder Farming in Eastern Africa - Uganda ...

from sales and therefore were unable to restock their drugs in time to continue offering
services.
As far as professional development was concerned, the CBAHWs who regularly
enhanced their level of animal health knowledge by attending refresher courses were more
active than those who did not. Therefore it is logical to argue that CBAHWs need to remain
more knowledgeable than ordinary livestock keepers on livestock health matters. Those who
do not enhance their level of knowledge may find their services being demanded less as
livestock keepers in their surroundings acquire an equivalent level of knowledge.
Enhancing the record keeping and professional development of CBAHWs will
strengthen their capacity in service delivery. Livestock keepers will have easy access to
veterinary inputs. They will be able to obtain treatment when required without having to walk
longer distances to local veterinary drug stores. Furthermore, livestock keepers will be able to
purchase the exact quantity of drugs required. This will reduce the cost of treatment.
Livestock keepers will therefore be more inclined to treat or protect their animals with
veterinary inputs. At the same time, more knowledgeable CBAHWs will be able to
effectively advise livestock keepers on correct drug dosages, especially in areas where
livestock keepers are illiterate and cannot follow instructions on drug packets. In the absence
of CBAHWs, livestock keepers will have to rely on their own knowledge or on the advice
provided by drug stores. Some studies have shown that some of these veterinary drug stores
are manned by persons without any training in animal health (Bett 2001). Under such
circumstances, the risks of drug misuse are likely to be greater than when livestock keepers
are acting under the advice of CBAHWs. The CBAHWs, although clearly not as well trained
as veterinarians or para-veterinarians, appear to provide an improvement over having a few
resource-endowed livestock keepers correctly advised by veterinarians or para-veterinarians
and the majority of the community receiving no advice at all.
This study has shown that CBAHWs have enhanced the capacity to delivery animal
health services in marginal areas. The government can support the CBAHWs through
training, and the CBAHWs can in return provide a frontline service in animal health delivery
in these areas. There is thus a positive synergy between the government and CBAHWs that
the government should consider exploiting.
7.2 Regulation and service delivery enhancement
The current licensing requirements for private veterinary practice exclude important
types of animal health service providers. The role of CBAHWs is critical in the provision of
animal health services in marginal areas, given the state of events and infrastructure in these
areas. CBAHWs wishing to offer services to their communities should be encouraged to do
so. Likewise, the CBAHWs currently offering services should be recognized and registered.
Nonetheless, a clear regulatory framework that encourages professional fair play should
be enacted. The existing government animal health services structure has a clear and
definitive role for veterinarians and para-professionals. Borrowing from this, a new
legislative framework to regulate the activities of CBAHWs and give them an official role
could be designed. By legitimizing the activities of these service providers, the state will be
able to better monitor their performance and control malpractice. The formation of CBAHW
associations could enhance training standards and encourage the formation of links with